Starting and ignition system fob internal-combustion engines



, V. A. FYNN.

STARHNG AND mmmm SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATIONFILED MAR. 7. 3918.

1,337,649. at nted Apr- 20, 1920.

WITNESS.

JTTORNE Y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VQJIJEBE A. FYNN, OF ST. LOUIS, MIssoUnI, ASSIGNOR T0 WAGNER ELECTRICMANUFACTURING COMPANY, or s'r. LOUIS. MISSOURI. A CORPORATION OFMISSOURI.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Application filed March 7, 1918. Serial No. 221,068.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Vaniinn A. Fran, a subject of the King of England,residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, United States ofAmerica, have invented a certain new and useful Starting and IgnitionSystem for internal-Co1nbustion Cngines, of which the following is sucha full, clear, and exact description as will enable any one skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to a battery ignition system for internalcombustion engines operated in conjunction with a cranking motorreceiving energy from the battery to start the engine. It often happensthat the cranking motor is started before the ignition switch isclosedin which case, all the energy expended in cranking the en gine iswasted and the battery is uselessly drained to a corresponding extent.It is usual to provide such ignition systems with a hand operatedignition switch and to lock same in its off position when storing thecar in the garage, or when parking it. But the car can nevertheless bepropelled even when the ignition switch is locked in the mannerdescribed, for it is only necessary to throw in the gears and close thestarting switch when the car will be moved by means of the crankingmotor to the great detriment of the battery. This practice is resortedto by automobile thieves and frequently by garage employees in theabsence of. the owner.

The object of my'invention is to preclude the possibility of wasting thebattery energy in cranking the motor with the ignition cireuit openandto make it impossible to crank the engine or to start the cranking motorwhen the ignition switch is locked in its off position by means of aYale lock or some other device. My invention ms the further advantage ofpreventing accidental closing of the motor starting switch when theengine is in operation.

In carrying out my invention, I provide interlocking means between theignition and startin switches so arranged as to make it impossible tostart the cranking motor.unless the ignition switch is in its operativeposition. My invention will be better unswitch.

derstood by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 isa diagrammatic representation of one embodiment of my invention, whileFig. 2 dia rannnaticallv indicates the side elevation o' the ignitiohswitch of Fig. 1.

()ne pole of the battery 12 is connected to the terminal 2 on which thelever H oi the ignition switch is pivoted. The other pole is connectedto the low tension side of the spark coil 11. and through it to thetimer 10 and the stationary contact adapted to cooperate with theignition The high tension side of the igni tion coil is grounded at oneend and con nected to a distrihutcr at the other. positive pole of thebattery is also connectec. tothe spring controlled starting switch 21The spring 20 normally holds this switch against the stop 19. That poleof the bat tery which is connected to the spark coil. is also connectedto the field winding 26 of the cranking motor and through its armature25 to the stationary contact 23 adapted to cooperate with the startingswitch 21. The

switch arm 21 carries a pin 18 adapted to engage the nose 22 provided onthe disk 2-1 pivoted at 28 and held in the position indi rated in thefigure by means of the spring 16. In order to close the starting switch21. it is necessary for the pin 18 to lllOVt' the nose 22 out of itsnormal position, tlifll: revolving the disk 24 in a counter-cloclnvisrdirection. The pin and the nos are so r0rrelated that when the switch 21is closed. they are still in engagement. of the disk 24 in acounter-clockwise direction is, however, prevented by means of the catch14, which engages with the notch 17 when the disk is in its normalposition.

This catch is firmly held in the support 15,

but can be lifted out of'engagement with the notch 17 by means of theeleetromagnet 13, one terminal of which is connected to the negativepole of the battery, whereas the other is connected to the stationarycon tact 3,adapted to cooperate was 'the movable spring controlledcontact 7, supported by the arm 8 of the ignition switch. When theignition switch has been moved to its closed position, for instance, bymeans of the handle 9, then connection is established by it between thecontacts 2 and 4 and while contact 7 is now ina position to cooperate Amovement with the contact 3, yet it is held away from the latter bymeans of the spring 6 secured by the screw 5. When the ignition switchis closed, the circuit of the electromagnet 13 can be closed by ressingon the contact 7. The energizing a l this electromagnet lifts the catch14 out of engagement with the notch 17 and allows the starting switch tobe moved to the stationary contact 23, thus closing the circuit of thecrankin motor.

In operating the arrangement siown, it is first necessary to close the inition switch, then to press on the contact and to close the startinswitch. As soon as the starting switch has een closed, the contact 7 maybe released. This will denergize the electromagnet 13 and allow thecatch 14 to rest on the disk 24 at some point to the right of. the notch17. When the engine has fircd and is able to operate without the help ofthe cranking motor, the switch 21 may be released when the disk 24 willreturn to its normal position and allow notch 17 to again engage withthe catch 14. In order to stop the engine, the ignition switch is openedand may be locked in its oil" position in any desired manner. When solocked, it will be impossible, because of the catch 1st and the notch17, to close the circuit of the cranking motor.

This arrangement permits the motor switch to be operated by the foot, asis now usual, and of the said switch being located close to the crankingmotor and to the bats tery, thus reducing to a minimum the length of theheavy connecting cables necessary for the cranking circuit.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a starting and ignition system for internal combustion engines, astarting motor, a supply circuit therefor, an ignition circuit, anignition controlling switch, means for controlling the closing of thesupply circuit, said means comprising a manually operable switch whichcan be opened and closed only when the ignition switch is in its closedposition.

2. In a starting and ignition system for internal combustion engines, astarting motor, a controlling swltch therefor, an ignition circuit acontrolling switch for said circuit, 100 ring means preventing theclosing of the motor switch, and means operable only when the ignitionswitch is in closed position for releasing the locking means.

3. In a starting and ignition system for internal combustion engines, astarting motor, a controlling switch therefor an ig-- nition circuit, acontrolling switch tor and circuit, locking means preventing the closingof the motor switch, electromagnetic means for releasing the lockingmeans, a pair of contacts for controlling the electromagnetic means, oneof said contacts being movable by the i nition switch out of operativerelation wit the other,

4. In a starting and ignition system for internal combustion engines, astarting motor, a controlling switch therefor an ignition circuit, a.controlling switch for said circuit, locking means preventing theclosing of the motor switch, electromagnetic means for releasing thelocking means, a pair of contacts for controlling the electromagneticmeans, oiic of said contacts being mounted on the ignition switch arm.

In a starting and ignition system for internal combustion engines, astarting motor, a. controlling switch therefor, an ignition controllingswitch, a pivoted locking member in the path of the motor controllingswitch, a stop cooperatin therewith, and means for removing said stopfrom engagement with the pivoted member, said means being operable onlywhen the ignition switch is closed.

6. In a starting and ignition system for internal combustion engines, astarting motor, a controlling switch therefor, an ignition controllingswitch, a pivoted locking member in the path of the motor controllingswitch, a stop cooperating therewith, means for removing said stop fromengagement with the pivoted member, said means being operable only whenthe ignition switch is closed, and means for bringing said stop andpivoted member into engagement when the motor controlling switch isopen.

7. In a starting and ignition system for internal combustion en ines, astarting motor, a controlling switch the'irefor, an ignition controllingswitch, a movable looking member in the path oft the I otor controlledswitch, and means controlling said locking member, said means beingoperable only when the ignition switch is closed.

8. In a starting and ignition system for internal combustion engines, astarting motor, a controlling switch therefor, an ignition cbntrollingswitch, a movable lockingmember in the path of the motor controlledswitch, and means controlling said locking Irmber, said means beingoperable only whenthe ignition switch is closed and com rising anelectromagnetically control ed stop cooperating with the locking member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and ailixed my seal.

VALER-E A. FYNN. [11.8.]

